BIKE TOUR to SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS

Adventure Advocacy RideWinona to Ely • April 2-May 10, 2015

Starting April 2, 2015, in Winona, Minnesota, three bicycle riders--instructors from Voyageur Outward Bound School--began a journey of adventure advocacy across Minnesota stopping at colleges and communities along the way, to raise awareness about the threat to the Boundary Waters' clean water, clean air and forest landscape from proposed sulfide-ore copper mining on its wilderness edge.

On May 10, 2015, the riders completed their journey of 850 miles over 39 days and celebrated in Ely, Minnesota, which is at the edge of the Boundary Waters.

During the ride, more than 6,000 people signed the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters petition asking for permanent protection for the Boundary Waters and its wilderness edge. To learn about the campaign's previous aventure advocacy effort Paddle to DC, with National Geographic 2014 Adventurers of the Year Dave and Amy Freeman, watch the video A Quest for Clean Water.

Meet the Riders

Riders Erin McCleary, Lisa Pugh and Iggy Perillo have long enjoyed exploring the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and leading trips through its wilderness. Through their experiences up north as instructors for Voyageur Outward Bound School the three have developed an appreciation for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and a passion for protecting it from mining pollution. They rode on the bike tour to help others understand why the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the wilderness edge community it supports is worth protecting.